Household carbonator



Dec. 28, 193. w. MAGEE HOUSEHOLD CARBONATOR Filed Nov. 17, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ill O J m W. MAGEE HOUSEHOLD CARBONATOR Dec. 28, 1937.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1952 Ja/erz/Z/ J/diz'amfl ee mmwmm m ym. fi

' drawings, in which pressor are located elsewhere.

sor l3 supplies compressed refrigerant to a coil Patented Dec. 28, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,103,479 nousnnonn CARBONATOR William Magee, Park Ridge, 111., assignor, by

mesne assignments, of ten percent to Donald Guilliams, Evanston, Ill.

' Application November 17, 1932, Serial No. 643,038

14 Claims.

This invention relates to household carbonators and has for its principalobject the provision of a simple and effective means for providing parbonated water, preferably chilled, in the home.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined household refrigerator and water carbonator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined electric refrigerator and household carbonator in which a single motor is employed to drive the compression unit of the refrigerator and a water pump for supplying the carbonator with water under pressure.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with Figure 1 is a sectional elevation through a household refrigerator provided with my improved carbonator;

.Fig. 2 is a and l v Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram associated with a; diagrammatic showing of the electric motor, refrlgerator compressor, and water pump.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral l9 designates a conventional electric refrigerator having a food compartment II and a door l2. The reference numeral I 3 designates the compressor which is driven in known manner by an electric motor I4. In. the embodiment of the invention shown, the compressor and motor are located below the food compartment II, but it will readily be understood that the invention may be applied to refrigerators ofradically different design in which the motor and com- The compresl5 and the cooled refrigerant passes by a pipe Hi to a chilling unit l1. vIn practically all commercial electric refrigerators known to me there is left a space l8 behind the chilling unit H, in which space I prefer to locate a coil. I 9,

the purpose of'which will hereinafter be described. v

The drive of the motor I4 is communicated to thecompressor I3 by means of apulley wheel 20 The carbonator is designated generally by the reference numeral 23 and is preferably mounted the accompanying sectional detail of the carbonator,

near the upper end of the food cabinet. It may be supported from the top or, as shown in Fig.

1, it may be mounted by means of brackets 24 upon the side of the chilling unit H. The carbonator 23 is best shown in Fig. 2. It comprises 5 a body 25, which may be a metal casting suitably machined. The body 25 comprises a chamber 26 which is connected by means of a duct 21 with a longitudinal passageway 23.

' The rearward end of the passageway 23 is enlarged and threaded for the reception of a correspondingly threaded fitting 29 to which an end of a copper pipe 30 is secured by means of a threaded collar 3|. Forwardly of the fitting 29 the passageway 23 is reduced to provide a valve seat 32 which is adapted to be engaged by a valve 33 so as to close off communication between the pipe 39 and ductll. The valve 33 carries a forwardly extending stem 34 which extends through a suitable packing gland 35. The valve stem 34 is providedat, its forward end with a pin 36 which extends into slots 31 of a double lever 38 pivotally mounted on a pin 39 carried by the body 25, as will hereinafter be described. The body has formed therein a venturi 49 which 25 extends rearwardly from the chamber 26 and terminates in an internally threaded enlarged portion 4|, to which is secured a copper-pipe 42 inthe same manner, as already described with respect to the pipe 39. 'Ihe'pipe 42 connects to a which is mounted at a suitable position near the door I2 of the refrigerator. A suitable position for the spigot is near the forward end of the chilling unit IT, to which it may be secured (by a bracket 44. The spigot 43v is provided with a discharge nozzle 45 and is adapted to beactuated by an arm 43. The arm .46 is provided with a slot 41" in l which is received a pin 48 carried by a rod 49. 40

The rod 49 is substantially horizontal and is guided in a suitable openingin an arm 50 carried by the body of the spigot 43. Atits forward end the rod 49 carries 'a push-button- 5| and a I coil spring 52 located around the rod. 49 between the pushbutton 5| and arm 59, so that it tends to move the rod 49 forwardly. The forward position of the rod 49 is determined by. a; collar 53 rigidly secured to the rod 49 rearwardly of the arm 59 against which it is adapted to 5 abut. At its rearward end the rod 49 car-' ries a pin 54 which extends into slots 55 in the doublevlever 38 at a point below the pin 36 of the rod 34. v

The body 25 of the carbonator is provided with 55 30 valve or spigot 43 a threaded opening 56 in alignment with the venturi 40, this opening. extending into the chamber 26. The opening 56 receives a correspondingly threaded portion of a plug 51 which is provided interiorly with a valve chamber 58. The valve chamber 58 communicates through a venturi 59 with the interior of the chamber 26, the'rearward portion of the venturi 59 being located within a rearwardly extending nipple 68 which extends into the chamber 26 to a point a short distance from the opening of the venturi 40. As best seen in Fig. 2, the venturis 59 and 49 are in alignment and water supplied to the chamber 26 by the pipe 38 may pass into the venturi 48 to be delivered to the pipe 42, together with carbon dioxide gas which enters through the venturi 59. Within the chamber 58 is located a .valve 6| which normally closes the forward end of the venturi 59. The valve 6| is secured to a stem 62 which extends forwardly through a gland 63 and is provided with a pin 64 at its forward end. The pin 64 projects intoslots 65 in thedouble lever 38 previously referred to. The pin 39 is supported on an arm 66 rigidly carried by the plug 51. As readily seen in Fig.

2, when the button'5l is pushed inwardly that is to the right, valve stem 34 is pushed to the right to move valve 33 into open position and valve stem 62 is moved to the left so as to move valve iil to open position, the pins 36 and 64 being located in opposite sides of the pivot 39.

A carbon dioxide gas pipe 61 is secured to the plug 5! by means of a hollow threaded plug 68 so that this pipe communicates into the valve chamber 58. As will hereinafter be shown, the pipe 81 is adapted to supply carbon dioxide gas under pressure to the chamber 58, while the pipe 38 is adapted to supply water under pressure, which'water is'supplied when the valve 33 is opened, to the chamber 26.

At a sui ble position, the rod 49 carries a pin 69 which xtends through a slot 10 in an arm HP. This arm is connected to a pole member 12 of a switch I3. The switch comprises contacts I4, and 15 which are adapted to be connected by the pole member 12 to complete a circuit, which will hereinafter be described, when the rod 49 is pushed to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. When the button 5| is released, the spring 52 moves the rod 49 to the left as viewed in Fig. 2, the contacts 14 and 15 are electrically disconnected and the valves 6| and 33 are moved to closed position. It is to be noted that these valves close with pressure so that the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas' and the water serve the more securely to hold these valves on their seats when the carbonator is not in operation.

The carbon dioxide pipe 61 extends to a suitable position at which a carbon dioxide bottle or cylinder 76 may be placed. In the embodiment illustrated, the bottle 16 may be located in the mechanism compartment of the refrigerator and the pipe 61 may suitably extend through the center of the rear wall so that it is not sub jected to excessive cooling within the food chamber II. The lower end of the pipe 61 is provided with a. fitting 11 whereby it may remov-.-

' ably be secured to the bottle I6. The pipe 38 compartment of the refrigerator, being connected to the outlet side of a pump 19 therein.

The inlet of the pump 19 is connected by means of a pipe to the city water supply. It will be understood that in thefunctioning of the apparatus the water supplied through the pipe 18 is chilled by its passage through the cold food compartment I I, and is further chilled in the coil I9. The coil I9 is of sufficient'dimensions that it serves as a storage compartment for the amount of chilled carbonated water which the carbonator is intended to deliver. In ordinary household use, carbonated water is required only at intervals so that between successive withdrawals there is sufficient time for the chilling of a further supply of water.

The shaft of the pump 19 is preferably located in alignment with the shaft of the motor l4 and is adapted to be driventherefrom when the spigot 43 is opened. This drive may be controlled by a clutch member 8| secured to the shaft of the pump 19 and a corresponding clutch member '82 slidably and non-rotatably mounted .on a shaft 83 which is united to the shaft of the motor by a coupling 84. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the clutch member 82 is shown as actuated electrically. It will be understood, however, that I may employ any type of clutch whatsoever for connecting the pump 19 to the motor l4 when the spigot 43 is opened. In the embodiment shown in thedrawings I use a solenoid 85, the armature 86 of which is connected to a pivoted yoke 8| which engages the clutch member 82 in known manner. A spring 88 is provided which is adapted to move the clutch member 82 into unclutched position when the solenoid is no longer energized.

The wiring diagram shown in Fig. 3 will now be described. Inthis diagram the mains are indicated by the reference numerals 89 and 90. The main 90 is connected directly to the motor 14, and the main 89 is adapted to be connected to the motor by means of either switch 9| or 92. The 'refrigerator is controlled in any known manner, for example by means of thermostat 93, which is located in a circuit 94. The circuit 94 includes a relay 95 which is adapted to close the switch 9|. The circuit 94 includes asecondary winding 96 of a, transformer 91, the primary of which is connected to the mains 89 and 90, being preferably'in series with the primary of a transformer 98. The primary of the transformer 98 is in a circuit lllfl' which includes-the switch 13, the solenoid 85 and the relay llll The relay Hll controls the switch 92, which is moved to start the motor l4 when the relay l0l is energized.

The operation of, the machine is as follows: In normal condition, the switch 13 is oil, the switch 92 is open and the solenoid 85 is deenergized so that the clutch element 82 is out of contact with the clutch element 8|. The motor I4 is now under the control of the thermostat 93. For example, when the temperature of the food compartment ll falls to a predetermined point, the thermostat completes the circuit 94 and the relay 95 is energized so as to complete the motor circuit through the switch9| The motor I4 now operates until the desired .low temperature pre-v vails in the food compartment ll.

When it is desired to draw carbonated water from the spigot 43, the buttonv 5| is pushed inmovement moves the valves 33 and 6| to open position and also actuates switch 13 to close -the circuit I80; Immediately the solenoid 85 is enercontrolled by the thermostat 93. The movement of the clutch member 82 causes the pump 19 to bedriven so as to impart high pressure to the water which is supplied to the carbonator body through the pipe 30. The carbon dioxide gas entering this body through the pipe 6'! is forced into the water entering the venturi 40 and is immediately dissolved therein, the solution of the gas being aided materially by the low temperature of the water which has been stored in the coil 19 for some. time, and also the high pressure of the water, produced by. the pump 19. The pressure of the mixture of gas and water is reduced in the throat of the venturi 40 and the gas is distended and distributed throughout the water. Immediately thereafter, as the mixture moves away from the throat of the venturi 40, the pressure increases with the result that the widely distributed gas is forced into solution in the water by the increasing pressure. As a result, the spigot 43 discharges cold water having a high content of carbon dioxide suitable for the preparation of beverages.

It will be understood that many changes and modifications can be made in the present invention without departing from the essential features thereof. It will be understood that the arrange ment of wiring herein described is illustrative-only and the same results may be obtained in other ways.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a household refrigerator having a power unit, a switch adapted to control said power unit, and a carbonator mounted in said refrigerator, said carbonator comprising valves adapted to admit water and carbon dioxide gas thereto, a pump adapted to supply water under motor for operating same, a carbonator mounted means adapted to complete a circuit so as to move within the food chamber of said refrigerator and having a discharge spigot therein, valves in said carbonator adapted to control the admission of carbon dioxide gas and water, a pump adapted to be driven by said motor and'an electric clutch adapted to connect the motor and pump, said pumpbeing adapted to supply water under high pressure to said carbonator, means for controlling the carbonated water. spigot and said valves simultaneously, and a switch associated with said the-clutch to clutching position and to start the motor irrespective of the normal refrigerator controls.

3. In combination, a household refrigerator having a food compartment and a refrigerating unit including a motor, a carbonator mounted in said food compartment and having a dischargespigot therein, a pump for supplying water to said carbonator under substantial pressure, and a water coil of substantial capacity in said food compartment, means for supplying carbon dioxide gas to said carbonator, a valve in said carbonator controlling the admission of carbon dioxide gas, and

. means for controlling said spigot and said valve and said motor whereby said spigot is caused to discharge cold carbonated water.

4. In combination, a household refrigerator having a food compartment and means for chilling said compartment, a carbonator in said compartment comprising a discharge spigot and a valve for controlling the admission of carbon dioxide gas thereto, and means for supplying water under pressure to said carbonator, said spigot and valve being interconnected to be opened and closed in unison.

5. In combination, a household refrigerator having a food compartment and means for chilling said compartment, a carbonator in said compartment comprising a discharge spigot and a valve for controlling the admission of carbon dioxide gas thereto, and means for supplying water bonator, means controlling the discharge of carbonated water from said carbonator, and means associated therewith for starting the motor irrespective of the condition of said thermostat.

'7. In combination, a' household refrigerator having a power unit, a s itch adapted to control said power unit, and a carbonator mounted on said refrigerator, said carbonator comprising valves adapted to admit water and carbon dioxide gas thereto, a pump adapted to supply water under substantial pressure, a clutch adapted operatively to connect said pump to said motor, a spigot for discharging carbonated Water, and means for actuating simultaneously said valves, clutch and said switch.

8. In amechanical refrigerator having a food compartment and a freezing unit therein, a carbonator mounted on said refrigerator, means within the food compartment adapted to supply chilled water to said carbonator, means adapted to supply carbon dioxide gas to said carbonator, valves controlling each supply, and means interconnecting said valves whereby they are adapted to open simultaneously and close simultaneously.

9. In combination, a household refrigerator having a food compartment and means for compartment comprising a discharge spigot and a valve for controlling the admission of carbon dioxide gas'thereto, and means for supplying water under pressureto said carbonator, said spigot and valve being interconnected so that they may both be in opened condition or both in closed condition at the same time.

10. In a mechanical refrigerator having a food compartment and a freezing unit therein, a carbonatormounted on said refrigerator, means chilling said compartment, a carbonator in said I at the same time.

11. In a mechanical refrigerator having a food compartment and a freezing unit therein, a carbonator mounted on said refrigerator, a container within the food compartment adapted to maintain a supply of water to be chilled and carbonated, means adapted to supply carbon dioxide gas to said carbonator, a valve controlling the outlet of chilled carbonated water from said carbonator, a valve controlling the supply of carbon dioxide gas to the carbonator, and a single manual control for actuating both said valves.

12. In combination, a mechanical refrigerator having a food compartment and a chilling unit therein, a carbonator mounted on said refrigerator, a container within the food chamber for maintaining a supply of water to be chilled and carbonated, means for supplying water under.

pressure to said container, a switch controlling the operation of the water supplying means, a valve controlling the supply of carbon dioxide gas to the carbonator, a spigot controlling the delivery of chilled carbonated water from the carbonator, and means interconnecting said valve,spigot and switch for correlated operation.

13. A carbonator comprising a conduit for supplying water under pressure thereto, a valve in said conduit, a conduit for supplying carbon dioxide to the carbonator, a valve is last said conduit, a single manual control for actuating both said valves, and Venturi means through which the mixed water and carbon dioxide are forced.

14. A carbonator comprising a mixing passage through which carbon dioxide and water are adapted to flow, Venturi meansin said passage varying the pressure of the fiuids\passing therethrough, a valve controlling the supply 01 water to said passage, a valve controlling the supply of carbon dioxide to said carbonator,'means linking said valves together to enable them to be operated simultaneously, and a single manual means for operating said valves.-

WILLIAM MAGEE.

mixing. 

